Green Bay Mayor Under Scrutiny After Report Alleges Illegal Campaign Activity

Green Bay’s City Clerk will conduct an audit of Mayor Jim Schmitt’s campaign finance documents after a report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette revealed Schmitt may have collected roughly $10,000 of illegal contributions.

The Press-Gazette reported that Schmitt collected payments both from individuals that exceed state limits for local races and from corporations, which are not allowed.

The audit, which will review three years of the incumbent mayor’s records, was originally requested by three members of the city council. Chris Wery is one of the aldermen.

“It’s just about clean government — transparent government,” said Wery. “I think we need to see copies of the bank statements and checks that the mayor received just to verify things. We can’t just take his word for it. That’s not how open government works.”

Wery supports one of Schmitt’s opponents in the race, Tom De Wane.

Schmitt also supports the audit, although in a written statement he called the scrutiny of his campaign “theatrical” and a “political attack.”